Clunk and no transmission
 

1984 300TDT w/Automatic. Shifted into Reverse, and backed out of the drive. There was a "clunk" when the tranny engaged. Tried to shift into Drive, but nothing. I now have no forward or reverse. I checked the linkage, and have the correct motion through all the linkage down to the tranny. I suspect something inside gave out. How serious is this, and is there any chance that a fairly mechanically minded person can resolve this, or is it off to the transmission shop?

Can you turn the torque converter independently of the flexplate and ring gear?

Sixto
87 300D

I would have no idea how to do that. :(

I'd raise it on jackstands in the rear with the car in park and see if the rear tires turn. If they do I'd say you have something broken. If both turn, one forward and the other backward, I'd say it's the tranny, if just one turns at a time, can be the differential. There's my two pennies as I'm not all that good with tranny problems... Good luck!

if you put it on jackstands, be sure you have a solid surface to place them on, and chok the front wheels firmly, it wouldn't hurt to strap it to a tree/wall to be SURE it's not going to move...

It sounds like your B2 piston broke. This can be repaired with the tranny in place.

B2 issues don't affect reverse, which is also broken here.

I haven't seen any results from the other troubleshooting suggestions here??????

Put the nose of the car against something heavy and solid like a tree. Otherwise have someone in the car start it. Put emergency brake on. Engage drive on the transmission selector. Get down cautiously beside car and look to see if the driveshaft is turning. You may have had a constant velocity joint fail. The clunk you heard makes this a slightly better possibility than it would be otherwise. Still a long shot but possible.

By checking if the tires turn I meant with the engine off turn them yourself by hand...

Absolutely nothing happens when I move the selector when the engine is running. Common sense tells me that somewhere between my hand and the internal working components of the tranny that there is a disconnect. I had a piece of the linkage come apart once on my 300CD, just hanging loose. This feels exactly like that. However, I have been under the car, and can see the linkage moving, up to, and including the shaft entering the tranny. Thanks for all your help. I do have an appt scheduled with the shop, but I was hoping I would be able to do this myself. I do so love getting under there and getting covered with black stuff.

This may sound funny, but does the speedo register if you put it in drive & rev the engine? If so, check the output flange at the rear of the trans (it may have pulled out of the output shaft due to a loose nut) & all flex disks. If not, It's the trans or TC. Have you checked the fluid level?

Lie under the car and peep through the grating at the bottom of the bell housing. Try to hold the torque converter steady as the engine turns. The starter ring gear will turn with the engine, the torque converter might or can slip if the flex plate is torn. A monkey like me can turn the engine with a ratchet on the crank pulley bolt with my knees but maybe you can recruit help. I think with a 617 you can turn the engine by the power steering pump pulley. Turn the engine only in the direction it normally turns.

While you're under there, try to pry the torque converter away from the flywheel.

Sixto
87 300D